While the NCAA is promising "a lot of change," without specification, Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany made it clear what he would like to see change.

ESPN reported Delany said he would like to see the NBA and NFL follow MLB's model and allow athletes to skip college and head straight to the pros. He said allowing high school athletes to forgo college might increase the value of an academic scholarship.

"Maybe in football and basketball, it would work better if more kids had a chance to go directly into the professional ranks," Delany said. "If they're not comfortable and want to monetize, let the minor leagues flourish."

Under current rules, the NBA and NFL have mandated a high school athlete must play at least one season in college. For the MLB, players can sign with a team straight out of high school, or earlier. Baseball, however, has a larger global audience and MLB organizations have deep minor league systems, something the NFL and NBA lack.

"Train at IMG, get agents to invest in your body, get agents to invest in your likeness and establish it on your own," Delany said. "But don't come here and say, 'We want to be paid $25,000 or $50,000.' Go to the D-League and get it, go to the NBA and get it, go to the NFL and get it. Don't ask us what we've been doing."

Delany's comments, made at a conference in Dallas, were clearly geared toward the recent buzz about whether NCAA Division I athletes are compensated properly.

"You don't have to play for the Redskins or the Bears at 17, but you could develop IMG," Delany said. "My gosh, there are lots of trainers out there. There are quarterback coaches teaching passing skills, guys lifting weights, guys training and running. They can get as strong and as fast in that environment as they can in this environment. Plus, they don't have to go to school. Plus, they can sell their likeness and do whatever they want to do."

NCAA president has been firm recently in his stance on paying college athletes by simply stating it will not happen. However, he announced earlier this week that the NCAA would be making significant changes in terms of Division I's athletic governance.

It is unclear if Delany's suggestion will be part of the change, as such a move could mean less popularity for college sports. Forcing the top high school basketball and football athletes to attend college is part of a major draw to watch them play for the nation's top teams. If they were to go straight to the pros, people would watch them there.

Delany said his suggested change would create academic balance for student athletes in the major NCAA conferences. He noted how the minor league system works so effectively in baseball and hockey, asking, "Why is it our job to be minor leagues for professional sports?"